Louise Johnson recently announced that she’s leaving the district after five years to accept a job as superintendent of schools for Nevada Joint Union High School District in Nevada City.

She’s scheduled to be back from vacation this week with the promise to spend her final weeks helping the school board ease in the transition.

Trustees met last week to discuss plans for Johnson’s replacement. They also reviewed and looked into search firms.

“They plan to appoint an interim superintendent,” said Director of Curriculum and Categorical Programs Kathy Coleman.

That could take place at the July 22 special board meeting. The person appointed to the post will have the duties of working with the district team during this transition.

Changes at the top include new administrators at Ripona and Colony Oak schools along with hiring from within to fill the principal / teacher post at the new Ripon Continuation High School.

Sergie Samborski, who taught English at Ripon High, was picked last week to service the alternative education site. He’ll teach English and History in addition to his administrative duties. The district is currently searching for another full-time instructor to handle exclusively Math and Science.

Former Bear Creek High Vice Principal Marlon Gayle replaced Amie Carter, who moved to Marin with family to take on a similar-type kindergarten- through- eighth-grade position, as principal at Colony Oak.

Dante Alvarez will fill the void at Ripona School left with the mid-year departure of longtime principal Warren Council. Coleman stepped in to help out in the interim.

“We have many new teachers and other staffing joining the RUSD team as well,” she said.

For students, the first day of the 2013-14 school year is Wednesday, Aug. 14.

The school offices are scheduled to open on Aug. 5.

For more information, call the RUSD District Office at 209-599-2131 or log on to www.riponusd.net.